Culture Columns

Due to its sheer vastness Indonesia contains a rich variety of cultures. Jakarta, Indonesia's capital city and the center of national politics and economics, is the melting pot of many such cultures. Starting from the colonial era - when the city was known as Batavia - people came from all corners of the archipelago to this developing megacity in search of a livelihood. As a consequence Jakarta currently has a population of almost ten million people (official figure). The distance from the area of cultural origin, however, has resulted in a fading of some cultural features (especially for those families that have been living in Jakarta for multiple generations), but it has been 'enriched' by a distinct urban culture.

  • Exhibition Indonesian Art Group Tromarama in Stedelijk Museum

    Exhibition Indonesian Art Group Tromarama in Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

    From 12 June to 6 September 2015, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, a Dutch museum dedicated to modern and contemporary international art and design, exhibits the work of Indonesian art group Tromarama. Tromarama, formed in 2006 (in Bandung), consists of Febie Babyrose (1985), Herbert Hans (1984) and Ruddy Hatumena (1984), all graduated from the well-known Bandung Institute of Technology. Although the group experiments with different artistic approaches, animation remains their favourite means of expression.

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  • National Heroes of Indonesia: Abdul Muis; Writer, Journalist & Nationalist

    National Heroes of Indonesia: Abdul Muis; Writer, Journalist & Nationalist

    Abdul Muis (in old Indonesian spelling Abdoel Moeis), 1886-1959, was an Indonesian novelist, journalist and advocator of Indonesian independence from the Netherlands. As a novelist, Muis is most remembered for being the author of Salah Asuhan (Wrong Upbringing), a novel that is regarded as one of the great pieces of early modern Indonesian literature. As a journalist and freedom fighter, he is remembered for his blunt criticism toward the colonization of Indonesia. As a result he was arrested and spent several years in exile.

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  • 60th Anniversary 1st Asian African Conference - Bandung Conference 1955

    60th Anniversary 1st Asian African Conference - Bandung Conference 1955

    Next month it will be the 60th anniversary of the first Asian African Conference, held in the Gedung Merdeka in Bandung (West Java) between 18 and 24 April 1955. This conference, which is also known as the Bandung Conference, is regarded as a milestone as it was the first time an encounter took place among 29 Asian and African countries - many of which had just gained independence from western colonizers - with the aim to promote Afro-Asian economic and cultural cooperation as well as to oppose (neo)colonialism.

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  • Today in Indonesian History (11 March 1966): Supersemar

    Today in Indonesian History (11 March 1966): Supersemar

    Today, exactly 49 years ago, Indonesian President Sukarno reluctantly signed a decree that gave full authority to army commander General Suharto to restore order, protect Sukarno and safeguard the Indonesian revolution. This decree, which would become the start of a brand new chapter in Indonesian history (the New Order) as it marked the transfer of executive power from Sukarno to Suharto, became known as Supersemar (Surat Perintah Sebelas Maret, or, the Decree of 11 March).

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